(Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

San Jose, California On Sunday, multiple outlets reported that former two-time Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez had been released from prison on parole after serving a sentence related to a controversial 2022 shooting incident.

Velasquez, 43, announced the development on his social media accounts, confirming that he had been granted early parole and released from custody on February 15, 2026. According to reports, the longtime MMA star can now pursue his personal and professional interests outside of prison, including planning a one-day breathing seminar in the San Jose area.

Background: 2022 shooting incident and sentencing

Velasquez’s imprisonment follows a high-profile incident from 2022 in which he chased a vehicle containing a man he believed had molested his adolescent child and fired a gun. During the chase, another person – the defendant’s stepfather – was hit by a bullet but survived with non-life-threatening injuries. Velasquez was later arrested and charged with multiple crimes, including attempted murder.

In March 2025, a Santa Clara County judge sentenced Velasquez to five years in prison, with credit for time served in prison and house arrest, significantly reducing the time he would spend behind bars.

Under California law, inmates can receive credit for time already served – including time in custody and monitored home confinement – as well as for participation in rehabilitation programs. These reductions, combined with good behavior provisions, made Velasquez eligible for parole earlier than his original sentence indicated.

Velasquez’s reaction and plans for the future

After his release, Velasquez shared his first plans after leaving prison on social media and thanked his fans. In his statement, he suggested organizing a holotropic breathing seminar in the San Jose area, describing breathing as a tool that helped him “physically, mentally and spiritually.”

“I am considering the idea of ​​organizing a one-day holotropic breathing seminar in the San Jose area,” he wrote, adding that the practice was crucial to him.

Velasquez’s announcement also marks a shift toward personal well-being and social engagement, rather than an immediate return to competition. At 43 years ancient and Velasquez’s last professional fight was in 2019, Velasquez’s sporting comeback seems unlikely, but his next chapter outside the cage remains a topic of interest for fans and the martial arts community.

MMA Legacy and polarized case

Velasquez remains one of the most influential heavyweights in MMA history, known for his high-pressure wrestling, cardio and title victories during his prime. His release has once again sparked debate across the sport, with reactions ranging from support to criticism of the legal outcome.

The case itself – concerning a deeply emotional family situation – sparked widespread interest and debate both in the MMA world and in the mainstream media. Velasquez has already admitted in court to the recklessness of his actions, expressing remorse for the way he acted in the situation.

The legal proceedings are still ongoing

Although Velasquez’s prison sentence is now behind him, related legal issues continue. The man who was the alleged target of the 2022 shooting – Harry Goularte Jr. – is scheduled to appear in court in 2026 on separate charges of lewd acts with a minor.

This broader saga has been one of the most elaborate intersections of sports, personal tragedy and the American criminal justice system in recent years.